The recent Qantas turmoil has got me thinking... and at a 'simple' level I can understand both sides of the problem... Yes the unions and the workers have every good reason to be striking... but on the other hand: if the company is unable to remain price-competitive with other airlines then Qantas may not be able to survive as a successful company in the long run... Of course this issue is complex and I won't pretend to know too much about what is going on - but from what I saw on the news last night I am imagining that the future of Qantas is rather stuffed!
But really - aren't CONSUMERS part of the ones to BLAME!!!!????
Sure, we can sit at home and tut-tut Qantas execs for their behaviour - we can be aghast at the thought of Australian employees being underpaid and undervalued - and for an Australian company to want to move the enigineering repairs overseas! - Goodness! -think about the different engineering STANDARDS that may exist (or not exist) in these countries... (my husband is an aero-engineer and what he tells me is pretty-darn scary!)
I just want to remind everyone that AS CONSUMERS WE HAVE SO MUCH POWER AND SAY over world economics and issues - but probably most of us don't really stop to think about it. We don't think that each and every one of us is contributing to these issues by what we choose to buy or not buy.
And I think it is something we SHOULD think about a lot more...
Be honest. What are YOUR consumer standards?? Would you choose to fly on Qantas if their ticket prices were so much dearer than all other airline tickets? Would you be happy to pay MORE knowing that it is an Australian company and that staff are being paid fairly... Yes, it's a good reason to turn AGAINST them - for the current industrial action... but are we as consumers really there for them? - are we being supportive of any Australian company that is doing the 'right' thing and paying more for local labour and goods??
I TRY to have good consumer ethics... I get annoyed at all the 'cheap' foreign goods that are constantly being manufactured and brought into our country... I want to buy locally made and produced goods (especially FOOD), I want to buy LESS of things and not be so wasteful - and buy things that really aren't needed... I do dream of a more 'traditional' lifestyle of hand-made items and local trade - and I believe that I am trying to promote those values through my business and through my own creative actions..
But let's be honest: my actions often fall far short of my own values and standards. At times when it is convenient for me I'll buy the cheap made in China goods... (for example I've recently bought some unnecessary 'junk' for Halloween) - I was planning to make some 'bat' wings for my son... but I ran out of time, and black lycra was really expensive at Spotlight... and at a bargain shop we found a great looking cape made in China for just $3.50 - so I didn't bother to make my own. (Excuses, excuses, excuses!)
One area that I am particularly pedantic about trying to buy Australian made is FOOD. Mainly because I am concerned about the poor hygiene standards that can exist in third would countries. I'm sure it takes me a lot longer at the supermarket to check all the labels of where things are made. And you have to look! Even brands that you think you know and trust often are made in a third world country or from 'local and imported' goods.
Did you buy any lollies for Halloween?? Did you look to see where they were made?? (Most lollies are manufactured in China)
Let's face it. All companies and manufacturers are having to look towards outsourcing labour or goods to overseas because they are CHEAPER and there is no other way to keep costs down to the level that MASS-CONSUMERS are wanting to spend.
YOU, ME and everyone around us are consumers and when enough of us behave in the same way then we have MASS-CONSUMER power!
I bet you're all aware that Christmas is coming... Have you started your shopping yet?? Have you got a budget set?? Are you planning to hand-make any (or ALL!?) of your gifts?? Or are you just going to go with the flow and BUY lots of perhaps unneccessary items - just to be part of the Christmas-gift-giving-mass-consumer-frenzy???
Do your kids really want lots of made in China plastic things?? And if
you think they do - is the real reason just because you don't want them
to miss out on having what all their friends will have??
I just want everyone to THINK. To start to think, perhaps... or to think again - and try a little harder.
Think about your kids. What sort of world do you want for them?? How do you want them to grow up in this consumerist society?? What sort of JOBS do you want to be available for them in the future??? If we continue to buy cheaper products from overseas - then we're not really investing in their future are we??
I know I have room to improve... and I know what I value... I am going to try a lot harder. And perhaps if everyone did, all these problems with Qantas (and so many other companies) wouldn't exist... perhaps even our government would see what people want and stand up and save jobs and industries for the future good of our country.
(Sorry to have a long rant... but I really needed to!)
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